Volunteers go door-to-door helping those without health insurance

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Volunteers are going door-to-door in Grand Rapids this weekend educating people their options under the Affordable Care Act.

Enroll America will bring the "Get Covered America" campaign to Michigan this Saturday when volunteers will canvass communities in five cities across Michigan, including Grand Rapids.

"We are doing outreach to educate people about new options, identify who is uninsured and talk about health plans and where to go for resources," said Lonnie Scott, state director for Enroll America.

Scott says 1.2 million people in Michigan uninsured.

"From data, we know across the country 76% of people who will be eligible for plans or don't know about plans," said Scott.

They are hoping the National Day of Action will change that. Beginning at 1p.m., volunteers leave Ah-Nab-Awen Park and spread out through Grand Rapids neighborhoods. They will go door-to-door providing information and literature about available health care options.

"Our goals are simple. We want to maximize the number of uninsured who ultimately become aware of and enroll in the new affordable health care options coming to us by way of the health care exchange and the major provisions within the Affordable Care Act as well," said Shawn Dhanak, who is spear-heading the local effort.